Police in Northwest Bronx Hunt for Cop Impersonator

By DAVID CRUZ Police have been on a three-month hunt for an alleged cop impersonator exploiting kind-hearted Bronxites, and now need your help in tracking him. Police say Richard Gomez, 43, is suspected of hitting stores within the 52nd and 50th precincts in the northwest Bronx, addressing himself as “Sgt. Russo,” and asking employees to donate funds for sick children of officers. Gomez is swindling employees at Salsa Con Fuego at 2297 on Apr. 27 within the Five-Two and the Caridad Restaurant at 135 W. Kingsbridge Road, falling in the Five-O. Gomez is described as a male Hispanic at 5’8″

By DAVID CRUZ Sepulveda It comes with a heavy heart that we hear that Bob “Kappy” Kappstatter, former longtime editor and political columnist of the Daily News and most recently The Bronx Times Reporter, has joined the “Dark Side”–public relations. Now a political and media consultant, his first client is Parkchester Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda. Kappy sounds happy in his new role. “After years on being on one side of the fence, it’s now kind of fascinating to be on the inside, and hopefully doing some good.” Good luck Kappy.

Digital Edition of the Norwood News Is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ Plenty of community news you can use can be found in the latest edition of the Norwood News, which can also be found at 300 locations throughout the northwest Bronx. In this edition we take you to the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District and Fordham Road Business Improvement Districts, which are engaged in a fight to stem a move by a special interest group pushing for more licenses to street vendors. It’s a tale that spans 30 years, and the Norwood News will give you the low-down. We also go around the corner from the BID, and to a building

By DAVID CRUZ As an army of vendors mobilize for an increase in street vending permits, business improvement districts in Norwood and Fordham are gearing up to prevent an increase of vendors abutting brick and mortar establishments.

A Cleaner Northwest Bronx on the Way

By VIVIAN R. CARTER Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC), a not-for-profit support corporation of Montefiore Medical Center since 1981, wants the northwest Bronx to be healthy, safe and clean. It has garnered strong support from the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District and the merchants associations in three other local business corridors—Webster Avenue, East 204th Street and Bainbridge Avenue, and East 233rd Street and White Plains Road.

Montefiore School Health Program Tackles Teen Pregnancy With $3 Mil Grant

By IMANI HALL Vital Stats: 4K- Number of pregnancies among teen girls ages 15 to 19 in the Bronx. (Source: New York City Department of Health) Montefiore’s School Health Program (MSHP) has been awarded $3 million in funding by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation to combat teenage pregnancy in the Bronx. MSHP provides services to 40,000 Bronx students at 73 high schools in 22 school locations.

In Last Meeting Before Break, the 52nd Pct. Outlines Anti-Crime Strategy

By IMANI HALL The 52nd Precinct held its last community meeting before going on a two-month hiatus. At the meeting, Inspector Nilda Hoffman outlined the nagging spike in reported crime this year, focusing her attention on any impending increase this summer.

52nd Precinct Celebrates One Member’s Centennial Celebration

By IMANI HALL At the 52nd Precinct’s Community Council meeting June 25, members of the Council paused to recognize long-time member Mary Vallati, who will turn 100 this month. As part of the celebration, Vallati was presented with a proclamation from Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. with her family by her side.

Death of Kalief Browder Provokes Talk of Criminal Justice Reform

By JASMINE GOMEZ “I can’t take it anymore,” were the words Kalief Browder, a 22-year-old Bronx man, uttered to his mother, the night before he hanged himself on June 6 from his home.